Wednesday, February 19, 2025
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Cumberland Chair: Board Work Needed On Direction

Cumberland County School Board Chair Chris King said he’s unsure yet what the School Board will be looking for in a new Director Of Schools.

The board voted 5-4 not to renew Billy Stepp’s contract. Steep’s current contract runs through June 30.

“We’ve got a little time to talk about it of course I need to talk with the other board members but until we set that up in a meeting then there’s that we can really talk about,” King said. “This action was taken by surprise, to say the least. It caught the whole community by surprise and then there was no pre-thought or discussion about what would happen following some discussion about what would happen following some decision like this.”

King said he hopes the board can find a new director that continues the progression Stepp brought to the school system. King said he believes a board that is on the same page will be what ultimately closes the revolving door of directors.

“It’s gonna take a community that wants a board that has some stability amongst itself,” King said. “You know every two years there’s an election of board members and so it’s about half and half every two years. That could change and it sometimes does but if the change doesn’t see the need for consistency then that’s what we get is inconsistency.”

King said the board needs to look itself in the mirror as they approach the search for a new director.

“I think so,” King said. “We do have retreats and workshops where we do that or try to do that. You know actions speak louder than words I think.”

King said he would like to have a new director in place before Stepp’s contract is up. King said it is crucial to have a director before Stepp leaves as a director will need to make moves in terms of staff. King said things are about to get busy with preparing next year’s budget.

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